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When Mike Babcock talked about the development of his team this season, the Detroit Red Wings head coach credited the evolution of his third line for turning their fortunes around.

Monday, it was evident how far the Red Wings’ third line has come in their 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.

Rookie Gustav Nyquist scored the opening goal and Drew Miller added another as the Red Wings’ bottom two lines out-played the Blackhawks’ third and fourth units en route to the win.

“I thought our third and fourth lines were good,” said Babcock. “I thought their first and second line probably carried more of the play in the first. I thought we were better than them in the second and then in the third period we were trying to protect so much instead of playing and (Jimmy) Howard had to make a huge save.

“But I thought Patrick Eaves and those guys were real physical, which is great, along with (Cory) Emmerton and obviously Nyquist brings a good skill set.”

With the top two lines canceling each other out through the first 40 minutes of the contest, the goals by the bottom two proved to be the difference as the Red Wings took a 2-1 series lead with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday night in Detroit.

Patrick Kane and Pavel Datsyuk traded goals in the third period as the top units decided to drop in on the festivities.

“That’s big, it’s big for each line to win their battles,” said Nyquist. “But our third and our fourth line, we wanted to bring some energy for our team and grind them down low, win some battles and get momentum for our top lines, maybe get a face off in their end or something so our top lines can get out there.”

The third line did more than just earn some face-offs. Along with Nyquist and Damien Brunner, the unit dominated the Blackhawks’ third line and ate up their third defensive pairing.

Nyquist opened the scoring in the second period, out-racing the Blackhawks defence to a puck flipped down the ice by Brunner before out-waiting and rounding goaltender Jimmy Howard for his second of the post-season.

Just 31 seconds later, the Red Wings’ fourth line struck as Drew Miller poked in a puck sitting on the goal line, on a play that started with a turnover deep in the Blackhawks zone.

“I think in the playoffs, you have to have contributions from everyone,” said Miller. “Gus and myself and our lines, that’s big to get a goal. It gives the big boys, not a break, but some breathing room.”

Having staked their team to a two-goal lead, the Red Wings focused on holding on in the third period, which saw a couple of controversial calls play a factor in the outcome.

Kane pulled one back a little over four minutes into the frame, scoring on a breakaway.

The Red Wings protested the manner of the goal as Niklas Hjalmarsson took out Johan Franzen at the other end of the ice, leaving the forward in a heap in the corner. The play was allowed to come back the other way and Kane scored on the ensuing rush.

Moments later, however, a questionable call went against the Blackhawks as they thought they had tied the game when Viktor Stalberg’s shot found its way past Howard. However, with Andrew Shaw deep in the crease at the time the puck went into the net, the goal was waived off. Datsyuk then restored the Red Wings a two-goal lead, wiring a shot over Crawford’s shoulder.

“Certainly that (changed momentum),” said Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville. “We had the two and the momentum and everything going. We had some hits and we had some offensive-zone time. Obviously coming back 2-0 that quickly, you’re in a great spot. Then they scored, but we certainly didn’t let up.”